by Jinx Davis | May 19, 2023 | Views & News |
Recently I had a stimulating conversation with a young man in Croatia. He longed to travel and meet new people, yet felt he would never have the means to go far from his motherland. I countered his belief and spoke of how I have built internal friendships with nations...
by Jinx Davis | Jan 19, 2023 | Views & News |
Photography by Aaron Burden Since 2015 Yiyun Li has been writing award-winning books and articles. Her spellbinding works explore the devastating stuff of life, and she has become a beacon for readers worldwide. Since I converse with many individuals who have...
by Jinx Davis | Sep 16, 2022 | Views & News |
This is another simple reminder to keep your circle porous. We are witnessing the drastic consequences of our fears and tribalism. The ability to stop it in our own lives is the one thing we can do. – Jinx Davis I have a graduate school memory that has haunted...
by Jinx Davis | Jul 9, 2022 | Views & News |
Photograph by Annie Spratt Reminiscences of childhood have recently erupted, brought upon by cradling the newborns of dear young friends, fixating on the media’s coverage of mass killings of small children, and savoring the magical moments I have playing with my...
by Jinx Davis | May 11, 2022 | Views & News
The chatter about the Ukraine War is thundering, and it feels like everyone is on the bandwagon. Yet, as I listen to it across social media and in conversations, it is clear that most of us know little about this nation. It is unlikely that the conflict will end...
by Jinx Davis | May 4, 2022 | Views & News
This first appeared in China’s Ningbo Guide Magazine in January 2015 in a monthly column called Just Jinx. Gestation is important to each of us, for we are repeatedly granted the process of developing new life and birthing it into the world. May each of you...
by Jinx Davis | Jan 24, 2020 | Views & News
Photo by Kak Sok Phirom We’ve launched our new online magazine highlighting Cambodia’s contemporary arts and culture. One article at a time, Magical Cambodia is building a magazine that will introduce you to the artists, galleries, writers, dancers,...
by Jinx Davis | Jul 22, 2019 | Views & News |
Tribe’s mission statement says exactly what it actually does. No B.S. here, they are the real thing.: Nat Di Maggio & Terry McIlkenny, the owners/managers both share a love and passion for Urban / Street and Contemporary Art. Originally from London...
by Jinx Davis | Jul 22, 2019 | Views & News |
New Cambodian Artists – NCA We sat in front row seats in the black box theater to experience the recent work of the New Cambodian Artists on Saturday night. It was intense, immediate, personal, moving, skillful, and entrancing. You leave recognizing that you...
by Jinx Davis | Jul 16, 2019 | Views & News |
Mirage Contemporary Art Space once again illustrated its mission to introduce and highlight the emerging Cambodian art scene. As part of their arresting exhibition of Unsaid Things, រឿងមិនអាចនិយាយ ការតាំងពិរពណ៏ដោយ – An Exhibition by Romcheik 5 Collective –...
by Jinx Davis | Jul 8, 2019 | Views & News |
I reserved going to Phare Circus until I had learned first hand about their elevating social enterprise, roamed the Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPSA) or “The Brightness of the Arts” campus in Battambang, and befriended teachers, students and some of the countless talented...
by Jinx Davis | Jun 22, 2019 | Views & News |
It is a delicate dance. Cambodia haunts you as it inspires you. Next door to the abundantly gardened retreat of our home a hotel is being built. According to locals it is owned by a woman who has to start and stop the construction in order to raise the funds to...
by Jinx Davis | Jun 22, 2019 | Views & News |
I remain astounded by what is happening in Cambodia and tonight the credits go to Batia Sarem Gallery, Martin Phéline, and his guest artists Khvay Samnang and dancer Rady Nget.Not enough can be stated about the courage, skill, and mastery of these artists. Under the...
by Jinx Davis | Jun 6, 2019 | Views & News |
I spoke at length to a vibrant young man last night. He was a stranger, but only for a moment. He opened up about his life story in which he had literally raised himself, worked many jobs, learned 2 languages, stretched his mind and body, and gained confidence. Yet,...
by Jinx Davis | Jun 2, 2019 | Views & News |
The role of the US in the disaster of Cambodia. After one month of arriving in Cambodia, I take a day to myself, get caught up with social media, clean the house, and peruse a few books already read for the purpose of trying to answer some questions friends have...
by Jinx Davis | Oct 31, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
Vanessa Pequeno was pregnant with her new daughter when she made these shoes for the Living Arts Corporation’s Soul Shoe Project. As a young, working parent-to-be she had a lot on her mind. Her thoughts swam backwards and forwards, from her own childhood,...
by Jinx Davis | Oct 31, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
The maker of these Soul Shoes has yet to be named. They arrived anonymously via the Living Arts Corporation Ambassador Brandon Watkins. Yet, the shoemaker is likely a student of Les Jordan’s North Central Ballet in Keller, Texas- or Les Jordan himself. It is...
by Jinx Davis | Oct 31, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
One stitch at a time makes sense to Cindy O’Neill. She’s had to learn how to take one step, one day and one challenge at a time. Cindy is a recent cancer survivor, and a remarkable one at that. We’ve had the privilege of witnessing her challenges...
by Jinx Davis | Oct 31, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
Many of my fondest memories of living in the American South evolved around sitting on the front porch and plaiting the hair of friends, neighbors and relatives. We could spend hours giggling, telling stories and calling out to each and every person that walked by....
by Jinx Davis | Jun 9, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
Students are making Soul Shoes down in Orange Texas, thanks to their teacher Krista Richard. The classroom discussed violence against children around the world and in their own community and decided to create shoes that celebrated their environment in Orange. Moss...
by Jinx Davis | Jun 9, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
Over the course of my adult life I have taken solo journeys throughout America, sometimes living with the homeless and sometimes following the trials of Native Americans and African American migration. I remain off the beaten path in search of our nation’s...
by Jinx Davis | Jun 7, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
The first shoes made from the Soul Shoe Project were created by Angela D’Antonio, an international businesswoman, mother of two exceptional sons and an accomplished designer. I am a dreamer who believes in love! I gave some thought to my title and to what came...
by Jinx Davis | Jun 7, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
She’s spirited, fun-loving,industrious and by all bets one fine teacher. Erin LeBrock from Baytown, Texas connects with children and infuses them with her energy and passion for life and learning. What better Soul Shoe Maker? These are the shoes that would skip...
by Jinx Davis | Jun 5, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
Witnessing Kathryn Arena with children, whether they be her own grown daughters, her two grandsons or an anonymous child, is to watch ardor, diligence and attention in high form. Kate knows that parenting and learning is not attained by goodwill or chance. It...
by Jinx Davis | Jun 2, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
I did a soul shoes project with a mixed group of kids. We talked about the ways in which children survive everyday in ways that we could never possibly relate to. They decided it would be cool to create shoes as organically as possible to represent the earth and the...
by Jinx Davis | Jun 1, 2015 | Views & News |
Brochures are ready for the Soul Shoe Project. Are you making your shoes? A child dies every 5 minutes from violence. Make a shoe. Stop the Silence. Use community art to bring awareness. The vast majority of children are killed outside warzones and that...
by Jinx Davis | May 31, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
It would be an injustice to add anything about these Soul Shoes. Lea Ann Gardners own words, and the soles of her beloved flip flops, speak with both hands and hearts for the hearing impaired and deaf children in the world. “I used my own shoes that have...
by Jinx Davis | May 12, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
Mike Sheridan’s allegiance to his son Brody is an amazing thing to witness. Mike, who directs the donation program of the Living Arts Corporation, can be frequently seen trudging up and down the office stairs with large boxes and bags from retailers who donate...
by Jinx Davis | May 12, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
Holly Cagle created Soul Shoes so whimsical and playful, we think she should become a designer. The care, thought, and effort put into these shoes is humbling. Thank you Holly, for thinking of a child and immersing so much of yourself in these shoes. Holly lives...
by Jinx Davis | Apr 30, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery |
Daisy Saelen Hafstad knows what it means to spin on a floor and dance in celebration of life. When approaching her Soul Shoes contribution Daisy thought about the symbols in her own life that lifted her spirits. For decades she has orchestrated and directed...
by Jinx Davis | Apr 24, 2015 | Views & News |
Brandon M Watkins has joined the Board of Directors for the Living Arts Corporation and is serving as our Communications Ambassador. Mr. Watkins is the Administration Manager at SMW Projects, Inc., a full service Project Management firm with offices in Lousiana and...
by Jinx Davis | Apr 19, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery
The mother & son team of Clare Arena Haden and Ben have created shoes that any child would love to wear for the Soul Shoes Project. Clare, who is a theatre professional and actress in Wisconsin, is known for her painstaking & conscientious work both on and off...
by Jinx Davis | Apr 12, 2015 | Soul Shoe Makers Gallery
Soul Shoes! Mother and Daughter team of Paetra and Amy Wendt from Boston spent a day thinking of a child that died from violence. They found outgrown boots & shoes in their closets, pulled out markers and art supplies, chatted away while designing and did what...
by Jinx Davis | Apr 2, 2015 | Views & News
Our May, 2015 performance series All Nets Have Holes will include a piece written by Clay McLeod Chapman, who has generously given me the performance rights to his stories in rest area. If you can get to Estes Park, Colorado for the Stanley Film Fest you will have...
by Jinx Davis | Jan 14, 2015 | Views & News
New Year’s celebrations always make us itch. They scratch and tickle and won’t leave us alone. They leave us hankering, yearning, thirsting and aching for another day, another chance, another rebirth. On New Year’s Eve we feel like Ebenezer Scrooge being...
by Jinx Davis | Jan 14, 2015 | Views & News
There is a inaudible and under-examined plight in the world: we are forgetting how to play. Cross cultural studies on children’s play are alerting us to the rapid decrease in children’s ability to enter in fantasy play and a severe decrease in both free play...
by Jinx Davis | Jan 14, 2015 | Views & News
“I’m an ass, you’re an ass, so where’s the problem?” I read these words decades ago but I’m just beginning to own them. They come from Fr. Tony de Mello, who was ostracized by his church but continued to teach people how to wake up and live until his sudden...
by Jinx Davis | Jan 14, 2015 | Views & News
Nadia was enchanting from the moment she crossed our threshold. Thirty-one years old, a natural beauty and an open, sincere spirit that flowed immediately from her steady handshake and engaging smile. She came to our home for a week’s respite from her demanding job...
by Jinx Davis | Jan 1, 2015 | Views & News
Dear son and China friends, I unabashedly send these words to you. I have been back in America for a month and each day has presented challenges in business, relationships, finances, culture and family dynamics that I could not have forseen while away. While it has...
by Jinx Davis | Aug 14, 2014 | Views & News
“I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.” – Lillian Smith, American writer I’ve been back a few short weeks from a three month hiatus in China and...
by Jinx Davis | May 14, 2014 | Views & News
Foreigners of all colors call it rude, uncivilized and violating- but they miss the point entirely. We all stare at the Other. I am chuckling as I read my umpteenth blog written by a foreigner about the Chinese love for staring. The Chinese have allegedly...
